Grasping device



April 29, 1930. M. w..;sM|TH 1,756,441

GRASPING DEVICE u Filed March 12, 1929 giga' 2/ mummia-...um

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED STATES MILTON WILLIAMS SMITH, OF CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY GRASPING DEVICE Application filed March 12, 1929.

The invention relates to a grasping device for recovering or removing varticles Jfrom inaccessible places and is particularly adapted for receiving broken rear axles from automobiles.

The axles usually break near the differential as the aXle is weakest there as it is cut for the reception of a spline. y Thel short stub remaining is removed at present by taking oit the wheel and removing the axle from the other side of the carA and then by means of a bar the part of the broken axle is driven out.

The object of this invention is to provide l5 a tool that saves the time necessary -for this removal of parts from the other side of the car and that can be used to grasp the stub and pull it out.

The object of the invention is also to provide a toolthat is siinpie and cheap and that has certain details of construction that make its insertion and operation bothr rapid and easy.

The nventiton is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top View ot' a device embodying my invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged section of the end of the handle showing the jaws closed and also showing, in dotted outline, the jaws when open. Figure 8 is an end view ot' Figure 2 with the jaws shown in open position.

The handle part comprises a tube 10 of material length in order to allow it to pass onto the'aXle housing of an Yautomobile as tar as the dilierential. The tube 10 has a transverse handle 11 to provide for easier liandling. A rod 12 is slidable in the tube and a spring 13 is interposed between the end of the tube 10 and a finger piece 14: on the rod 12 to yieldingly hold the rod in retracted position to force the jaws of the device toward a closed position.

The jaws 15 are hinged to the end of the tube 10. The jaws have their ends formed into knuckles 16 which flank the knuckles 17 on the tube. A pin 18 passes through the knuckles to form a pintle in each hinge. The knuckles 17 are made by slitting the tube and rolling back the material to form these knuckles thereby providing openings or slits Serial No. 346,427.

19 which are disposed to allow the aw-operating links to swing outwardly when the jaws are separated. V

The jaws are connected to the end of the rod 12 by the two links 20 which are pivoted to the lugs 21 on the jaws and to the end of therod.

The jaws are broadened at the ends and have the curved outer edges 22, to grasp the outer surface of an axle that is to be withdrawn.

The jaws are shallow at their ends 23 to Y allow the jaws to act as a tapered end on the device, as will be seen from Figure 2 and the article can be inserted with. ease. When it engages or nearly engages the axle the iinger piece 14: is pushed in and this forces'the rod 11 to lcause the links 2O to spread the jaws. The slits 19 allow the links 20 to move outwardly and the jaws can be swung to a wide open position to allow them to encompassthe stub of an axle and then close on it to give the .jaws a good purchase.l Thisdue to the links engaging'the jaws intermediate the ends of the jaws and a slight move- '5 ment of the rod 12 causes a relatively wide mowernentei1 jaws as will be seen from thek dotted position of these parts shown in Figure 2.

Slight changes can be made in the form l of the device without departing from the scope of the invention asV defined in the claim.

I claimz- .A grasping device comprising a tube and slitted at the end and 'on opposite sides, the material slitted being rolled back on the outside of the tube to form knuckles, jaws havino' knuckles hinged to the knuckles on the tube, Va rod slidable in the tube, links pivoted to the rod and the jaws and disposed so as to pass out through the slits when the rod is pushed to open the jaws. v

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature.

MILTON WILLIAMS SMITH. 

